Lifting jack



March 3, 1931. M. B. LUCKER LIFTING JACK Filed Dec. 19. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l //v VENTER- Axrrm MILF RRD B LycKER 5) @eaa-Ozg March 3, 1931. M. B. LUCKER LIFTING JACK Filed Dec. 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ment of parts.

' Patented Mar. 3, 1931 airs sa aris MILLAR-D B. Lifeline, or BENTON Hanson, MICHIGAN; ASSIGNORTO AUTO SPECIAL- rrnsivn e; co or sen raANcrsco, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION orv CALIFORNIA Lir'rriie JACK Application filed December 19,1928. semen 326,923;

My invention relates tolifting jacks and particularly to acks adapted for use in connection with vehicles such as automobiles.

One of the primary objects of'my present invention is to provide a lifting jack of simple and durable construction which may be conveniently moved into operative position beneatha vehicle such as an automobile and operated withconsiderable ease through the agency of a lever arm extending outwardly from the actuating parts of the jack.

Another object of my invention is to provide alifting jack, as above set forth, in which the actuating parts are of very simple 15 design andmay be very easily assembled or disassembled, thereby providing a device which is practical from the standpoint of manufacture and which may readily be disassembled for purposes of repairer replace- More specifically, my invention contem plates the provision ofa lifting jack in which a-pawl' and ratchet mechanismisj employed to effect the movement ofthe work engaging member, said pawl and ratchet mecha nism being conveniently mounted between the side frames and at the lower portions of said jack, conveniently operable means being provided on the actuating handle of the jack 39 for controlling the actuation of said mechanism. i I Still more specifically, my invention contemplates the provision of a jack which 'is mounted upon a'ca'rriageto render the same readily adaptable for positioning beneath an automobile, said carriage supporting a, pawl and ratchet mechamsm 'whlch may be op erated by means of :an outwardly extending handle or lever arm, a shiftable means being 40 associated with said pawl and ratchet mechanism which is operable, through the agency of a control lever on theoperatinghandle, to control the: direction of movement-of the work engaging portion'of the jack. y

- With the foregoing and other objects in view whichwillappear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructionhereinafter desslribed and claimed; t

' with; and

In the drawings:

Figure l is aside elevational view of a lifting jack embodying features of my invention, thesame being shown in condition to be operatively positioned beneath an automobile or other device tobe elevated;

Figure 2 is a plan view'of the device sliown n Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3"3 of Figure2; p

' Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, disclosingthe relative position of the parts when the actuating lever is about to be raised to cause the downward movement of the work engaging member; s r

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure disclosing the position of the parts constituting the pawl and. ratchet'mechanism when the lifting pawl has been completely disengaged from theratchet quadrant and the locking pawlm'oved into operative position there- Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism'as viewed from beneath said mechanism.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings whereinlike numeralshavebeenemployed to designate similar parts throughout the vari us figures. it will be observed-that one embodiment of my invention contemplates the provision of ack which includes a pair of side frames 10 which are spaced between and mounted at l-one extremity of a shaft 14:. These shafts l2 and 14 support suitable rollers 16. Thus the side frames and rollers present a carriage whlch 1s adapted to be conveniently moved from place to place. The

upper portions of the side frameslO converge toform bearings 18 in which a shaft 20 is supported, said shaft'providing the means of support for a ratchet or quadrant 22. This ratchet or quadrant 22 comprises a plurality if ofrat'chet teeth-24L and is provided with a 11ft ing arm 26. The outer extremity of this arm 26 pivotally supports a work engaging or lifting member 28. This member 28 is provided with depending arms 30. These arms 30iare pivoted medially thereof to the liftin arm 26 by a pin 82 and the lower extremities of these depending arms are pivotally connected at 84 to one end of a pair of linksr36. The opposite ends of these links 86 are rotatably mounted upon a stud 38 extending through the side frames 10. By employing these links 36 the horizontal position of the work engaging member 28 is constantly maintained as said member is moved in response to the actuation ofthequadrant 22. Likewise these 7 links 36 provide an additional means for lending rigidity and support for the lifting arm Actuation is imparted to the quadrant 22 through the agency of an operating or actuating handle 40. This operating handle 40 extends outwardly from the mechanism Just described in a convenient position to be actuated by the user, the inner extremity of said handle being pivoted upon a shaft 42 which extends between and is mounted within the side" frames 10. Extending laterally and downwardly from the handle 40 adjacent the shaft 42 is a short arm 44, the lower extremity of which pivotally supports a lifting pawl 46. The upper extremity of this lifting pawl 46 is formed with teeth 48 which are designed to operatively engage the ratchet teeth 24 in response to a downward movement of the operating handle 40. A coil spring50 which is secured at one extremity to a pin 52 extending laterally of the pawl 46 and at its other extremity to a pin 54 secured in a fixed position to the side frames 10, constantly urges the teeth of the pawl into operative association with the ratchet teeth 24.

Pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 56 carried by the side frames 10 is a second pawl 58which I shall desi nate as lockin )awl to distinguish from the lifting pawl 46. This locking pawl carries a pin 60 ans interposed between this pin 60 and a pin 62 which fastens to the frames 10, is a coil spring 64 which serves to normally urge said pawl in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive. This pawl 58 is formed with teeth 66 which engage the ratchet teeth 24 when .the operatin handle 40 is moved upwardly so as to disengage the teeth 48 of the pawl 46 from the ratchet teeth as clearly shown in Figure 5. In other words, as the ratchet quadrant 22 is moved in a clockwise or forward direction, as viewed in Figure 3, by successively raising and lowering the operating handle 40, the pawl 58 provides a means for locking the ratchet in position to permit the pawl 46 to be moved rearwardly into successive tooth engaging positions. 8

In order to control the direction of movement of the quadrant 22 and consequently the direction. of travel of the work engaging member 28, I provide a slide bar 68. This slide'bar 68 is provided with slots 70 and 72 and extending through these slots are guide pins 74 and 7 6 respectively. A coil spring 7 8 ratchet teeth I with the ratchet teetl which is interposed between the pin 62 and one extremity of the slide bar 68 serves to constantly urge said bar to the left, Figures 8 to 5 inclusive. At the lower right end of the slide bar I provide a lug and this lug 80 is connected to a lever 82, Figures 1 and 2, on the handle 40 by any suitable connocting means such as theflexible chain or link connections 84. When the lever 82 swung to the right, shown in Figure l, the

slide bar 68 will occupy its limiting retracted position to the right, Figure 3. When the slide bar occupies this position it will be apparent that clockwise rotation may be imparted to the quadrant 22 in response to the actuation of the handle 40, the pawl 46 serving to move the quadrant, and the pawl 58 serving as a means for locking said quadrant during each successive retraction of the pawl 46.

When the work engaging member 28 has been moved to the required position of elevation and it is desired to cause the lowering of said member, it is only necessary to swing the lever 82 on the handle 40 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. Movement of the lever 82 in this direction enables the coil spring 78 to effect the forward movement of the slide bar 68 (to the left) as shown in Figure 4. The forward end of the slide bar engages the pin 60 and thereby causes the disengagement of the pawl 58. As the operating arm or handle '40 is sub sequently raised, the pin 52 on the pawl 46 g the lug 80, thereby moving the slide bar out of engagement with the pin 60 so as to permit the coil spring 64 to act upon the pawl 58. Thus when the teeth 48 of the pawl 46 are completely disengaged from the ratchet in response to continued upward movement of the operating handle as clearly shown in Figure 5, the pawl 58 will prevent the downward movement of the lifting member 28 until a new position is assumed by the pawl 46. In this manner the quadrant is intermittently moved in a counter clockwise direction so as to effect the gradual lowering of the member 28. It will thus be apparent that the slide bar 68 which is actuated in response to the movement of the lever 82, serves to control the direction of travel of the quadrant. r

In some instances when thejark is not associated with. the work, it may be desired to quickly or freely shift the work engaging member 28. "For example, suppose that the member 26 occupies'its uppermost position out ofeng'agement with the work and it is desired to quickly lower the same. Under these conditions, the pawl 46 will engage the 24 as shown" in F igure4, and with the slide bar 68 positioned as shown, the pawl'58 will be held out of engagement Ifthe arm 40 is now raised and no load is applied to the member 28, and the teeth of the lug 48 are moved to the right, Figure 4, said teeth will immediatelyi become disengaged from the force against said. bar to prevent a rearward v movement thereof in response to the engagement of the pin 52 with the lug 80. When the teeth of the lug 4&6 become entirely disengaged, the workengaging member 28 may be freely moved up or down. clear, however, that as soon as a load is applied tothe member 28, the teeth of the lug -16 will not become disengaged until thete-eth of the lug 58 are moved into engagement with he ratchet teeth, Thus the pressure the ratchet teeth against the teeth 48 or" the pawl 46, which is occasioned by the weight supported by the member 28, is suflicient to prevent theoutward "displacement of said teeth" 48 until the teeth of thepawl58 assume the position of engagement shown in Figure 5. In' other. words, pressure of the ratchet teeth against the teeth of the pawl 46, in response to the load carriedon the member 28, will serveto' positively shift thejslide bar rearwardly when the pin 52 engages the lug 80,

therebyperniittingthe locking lug 58 to be moved into operative position with respect to the ratchet teeth.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that myinvention provides a littingmechanism or aclt which is particularly adaptable for use in connection with automobiles and vehicles of like nature The low position to which the work engaging member 28: is adapted to be moved enables the'same to be conveniently inserted beneath the work. The

wise provides additional supporting strue-' ture for the lifting arm 26. The pawl and ratchet mechanism just described isconveniently positioned within the carriage or side framesand there are now-operating parts whichwill readily get outof order. The siniplicity of construction and convenient arrangement of these partsenable the sameto be very economicallymanufactured. The

slide bar structure provides aiv'ery pos tive 7 means for controlling the direction of move 'ment of the ratchet'quadrant and this bar may be actuated from a pointwhich is easily accessible to the user at-all tunes. The arrangeme'nt oi theconstituent parts makes for i efficiency in operation and'enablesithe provision of a comparatively heavy duty lifting jack atalow cost; i j i I 9 Having thus described my'invention, what It will be I claim as new and desireito secure byLetters Patentis: v

1. In a lifting jackiof the'class described, a frame, a pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted upon said frame, said mechanism including a ratchet quadrant having a work engaging means, an actuating pawl for moving said quadrant, a locking pawl for engag ing the quaerant when the actuating pawl is disengaged, means operable externally of the tramefor effecting the actuation of the pawl and ratchet means, and slidable .means 00- operating with the locking and actuating pawlslior controlling the directioniof movement of the quadrant. a p i Y i 2. Ina lifting jack of the class described, a frame, a pawl and ratchet. mechanism mounted upon said frame, said mechanism including. a ratchet quadrant having a iworlr engaging means, an actuatlng pawl for mov- 1 mounted on said frame, said mechanism in eludin aquadrant having a :worlr engaging arm, an actuating pawl for moving said quadrant, alocking pawl for engagingv the quadrant when the actuating pawlis disengaged, a lever arm connected withsaid actuating pawl and operable externally of the frame foreliecting the actuation of; the pawl and ratchet mechanism, slidable means icooperating with the actuating and; locking pawls for controlling thedirection of travel ot'the quadrant in response to the actuation of said lever, and means on the lever for controlling the" actuation trollingmeans.

4. in a lifting jack of of the direction eonthe I class described,

a'irame, a pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted upon said frame,- said mechanism includ ng a ratchet quadrant havinga work engaging member, an ac'tualmg pawl for gaging; the quadrant when the actuating pawl is disengaged, means connected with said actuating pawl and operable externally of the frame for effecting the operation of thepawl and ratchet mechanisn1,,anda horizontally shiitable member operatively associated with said pawls tor ccntrolling the 'directioniot movement of the quadrant in response to-the actuation of the means connected with the actuating pawl:

1 5. In a liftingjackof the class described,

' aframe, 'aratehetmeans having afwork'enmovin the u'adrant a locking aawl foreni 2: a e 7 is'disengaged, means operable externally of, V

, gaged t handle to effect the movement of the ratchet,

.a pivoted locking pawl for. engaging the.

ratchet when the actuating pawl is disenom, andslidable means oper- -nse to the rearward movement able in res;

of the ac"uating pawl for controlling the operative relation between said pawls and.

the ratchet.

6; In a lifting jack of the class descrioed, a frame, a ratchet mouned on said frame having a work engaging element associated therewith, an actuating handle pivoted to andoperable externally of the frame, an

actuating pawl movable in response to the actuation of said handle for effecting movcment of the ratchet, a locking pawl having a fixed pivotal mounting, and a horizontally shiftable member adapted to be moved icsponse to the longitudinal movement of the actuatingpawl to permit the locking pawl to become operatively associated with the ratchet, whereby said ratchet will be locked in position upon the disengagement of the actuating pawl. I

7. In a lifting jack of the class described, frame, a pawl and rat het mechanism mounted upon said frame, said mechanism including a ratchet quadrant having a work ens gaging member, an actuating pawl tor mov ing the quadrant, a locking pawl for engaging the quadrant when the actuating pawl is disengaged, means connected with said actu ating pawl and operable externally of the frame for effecting operation of said pawl and ratchet mechanism, resilient means'for urging said pawls toward the vteeLh of the ratchet, a slidable member operatively associated with said pawls'for controlling the direct-ion of movement of the quadrant in response to the actuating of the means connected with the actuating pawl, and resilient means for urging said slidable member in one direction to cause the disengagement of the locking pawl from the'ratchet teeth.

8. In a lifting jack of the class described, a frame, a pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted upon said frame, said mechanism including a ratchet quadrant pivotally mounted atthe upper endof the frame and formed with a lateral arm adapted to be swung to a low POSi'tlClItU permit the same to be positioned beneath a device to be elevated, an actuating handle pivoted near. one extremity and the lower portion of said frame, an actuating pawl pivotall mounted upon and longitudinally movable in response to the actuation of said handle,-means for normally urging said actuating pawltoward the teeth of the ratchet, a locking pawl hav- 'ing a fixed pivotal mounting at tne lower port on of the frame, resilient means forv urging said pawl toward the teeth of the ratchet, and a horizontally shiftable member associated with said pawls, said member serving as a means for controlling the operative positioning of said pawls with respect to the ratchet teeth so as to govern the direction of movement of the ratchet in response to he actuation of the handle.

9. In a lifting jack of the class described, a pawl and raichet mechanism in rated upon said frame, said mechanism including a ratchet quadrant having a work engaging member, an actuating pawl for moving the quadrant, a locking pawl for en gaging the quadrant when the actuating pawl is disengaged, means connected with said actuating pawl and operable externally of the frame for e fecting the operation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, a .slidable inemher having a projection engageahle by the actuating pawl, whereby said actuating pawl may be disengaged from the ratchet teeth, another portion of said s idable member being adapted to engage the locking pawl to effect the disengagement thereof from the ratchet mechanism, and'resilient means for normally urging said pawls into operative engagement with the ratchet teeth.

v 10. Ina lifting jack of the class described, a pair of side frames, said side frames converging upwardly to present a bearing, a ratchet device mounted in saidbearing, said ratchet device having a lateral arm adapted to be swung to iL'lOW position to, permit the same to be positioned beneath a device to be elevated, rollers supporting said side frames, an actuating handle pivota-llymounted between and extending outwardly from said side frames, an actuating pawl pivotally' effect movement of said ratchet. device,

locking pawl pivoted in a fixed position between said side frames atthe lower portion thereof, resilient means interposed between said locking lpawl and said frames for normally urging said pawl into engagement with said ratchet, resilient means interposed between said actuating pawl and said frames for normally urging said. pawl into engage ment with said ratchet, a member slidably mounted between said frames in operative association with said pawls, said member being adapted to independently efiect the disengagemen of said pawls from the ratchet to control the direction of movement thereof. and means perable from a point on the handle for controlling the movement of said slid able] member; r I

11. In a lifting ack of the class described, a pair of side frames, said'frames converging upwardly to present a bearing,:a ratchet quadrantmounted in said bearing, said quadrant havingalaterally extending lifting arm adapted to be swung to a low'position to permit of its being positioned'beneath a device to be elevated, a work engaging member pivot-V ally mounted at the extremity of said arm, a link interposed between said pivoted work engaging member and said frames to main engagement with said ratchet teeth, a hori 5 -zontally shiftable member mounted upon means extending between sald side frames,

resilient means for urging said member in one direction to effect the disengagement of the locking pawl from the ratchet, said shiftable member being operable, in response to the movement of the actuating pawl in one direction, to permit the locking pawl to engage the ratchet teeth and to disengage the actuating pawl from said ratchet teeth, and means operable on the actuating handle for controlling the movement of said shiftable member. 7

12. In a lift jack of the class described, a frame, a pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted in said frame, said mechanism in cluding a quadrant having work-engaging means, means for controlling the movement of said ratchet quadrant associated with the frame, a tiltable member mounted in said frame, an actuating pawl pivotally mounted on said tiltable member and operable in response to the movements of said tiltable member to impart movement to said ratchet quad rant, a locking pawl having a fixed pivotal mounting, and means including a horizontally disposed slidable bar for engaging the actuating pawl when in one position and the locking pawl when in another position to control the direction of movement of the ratchet quadrant.

13. In a lift jack of the class'described, a frame, a pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted in said frame, said mechanism including a quadrant having work-engaging means, means for controlling the movement of said ratchet quadrant associated with the frame, a tiltable member mounted in said frame, an actuating'pawl pivotally mounted on said tiltable member and operable in response to themovements of said tiltable member to impart movement to said ratchet quadrant, a locking pawl having a fixed pivotal mounting, means including a slotted horizontal shiftable member for controlling the direction of movement of the quadrant, and means extending through the slots in said member for supporting and guiding said member during its horizontal movement; a

14:. In a lift jack of the class described, a frame, a pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted in said frame, said mechanism including a quadrant having ,work engaging means, means for controlling the movement of said ratchet quadrant associated with the frame, a tiltable member mounted in said frame, an actuating pawl pivotally mounted on said tiltable member and operable in re sponse to the movements of said tiltable member to impart movement to said ratchet uadrant a lockin awl havin a fixed pivotal mounting, a slidable member for engaging the pawls to control the direction of movement of the quadrant, and a pair of spaced supporting. members upon which said member is slidable.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

'MILLARD B. LUCKER. 

